the memoirs of louis xiv-02-第13部分

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again；　or　even　looked　at　him；　and　he　conceived　so　much　sorrow　at　this；
that　he　fell　into　a　languor；　and　died　two　years　afterwards。　　At　his
death；　Valincourt　was　chosen　to　work　in　his　place　with　Despreaux　upon　the
history　of　the　King。

The　King；　who　had　just　paid　the　heavy　gaming　and　tradesmen's　debts　of
Madame　la　Duchesse；　paid　also　those　of　Monseigneur；　which　amounted　to
fifty　thousand　francs；　undertook　the　payment　of　the　buildings　at　Meudon；
and；　in　lieu　of　fifteen　hundred　pistoles　a　month　which　he　had　allowed
Monseigneur；　gave　him　fifty　thousand　crowns。　　M。　de　la　Rochefoucauld；
always　necessitous　and　pitiful　in　the　midst　of　riches；　a　prey　to　his
servants；　obtained　an　increase　of　forty…two　thousand　francs　a…year　upon
the　salary　he　received　as　Grand　Veneur；　although　it　was　but　a　short　time
since　the　King　had　paid　his　debts。　　The　King　gave　also；　but　in　secret；
twenty　thousand　francs　a…year　to　M。　de　Chartres；　who　had　spent　so　much　in
journeys　and　building　that　he　feared　he　should　be　unable　to　pay　his
debts。　　He　had　asked　for　an　abbey；　but　as　he　had　already　one；　the　King
did　not　like　to　give　him　another；　lest　it　should　be　thought　too　much。

M。　de　Vendome　began　at　last　to　think　about　his　health；　which　his
debauches　had　thrown　into　a　very　bad　state。　　He　took　public　leave　of　the
King　and　of　all　the　Court　before　going　away；　to　put　himself　in　the　hands
of　the　doctors。　　It　was　the　first　and　only　example　of　such　impudence。
From　this　time　he　lost　ground。　　The　King　said；　at　parting；　that　he　hoped
he　would　come　back　in　such　a　state　that　people　might　kiss　him　without
danger！　　His　going　in　triumph；　where　another　would　have　gone　in　shame　and
secrecy；　was　startling　and　disgusting。　　He　was　nearly　three　months　under
the　most　skilful　treatment…and　returned　to　the　Court　with　half　his　nose；
his　teeth　out；　and　a　physiognomy　entirely　changed；　almost　idiotic。　　The
King　was　so　much　struck　by　this　change；　that　he　recommended　the　courtiers
not　to　appear　to　notice　it；　for　fear　of　afflicting　M。　de　Vendome。　　That
was　taking　much　interest　in　him　assuredly。　　As；　moreover；　he　had　departed
in　triumph　upon　this　medical　expedition；　so　he　returned　triumphant　by　the
reception　of　the　King；　which　was　imitated　by　all　the　Court。　　He　remained
only　a　few　days；　and　then；　his　mirror　telling　sad　tales；　went　away　to
Anet；　to　see　if　nose　and　teeth　would　come　back　to　him　with　his　hair。

A　strange　adventure；　which　happened　at　this　time；　terrified　everybody；
and　gave　rise　to　many　surmises。　　Savary　was　found　assassinated　in　his
house　at　Paris　he　kept　only　a　valet　and　a　maid…servant；　and　they　were
discovered　murdered　at　the　same　time；　quite　dressed；　like　their　master；
and　in　different　parts　of　the　house。　　It　appeared　by　writings　found
there；　that　the　crime　was　one　of　revenge：　it　was　supposed　to　have　been
committed　in　broad　daylight。　　Savary　was　a　citizen　of　Paris；　very　rich；
without　occupation；　and　lived　like　an　epicurean。　　He　had　some　friends　of
the　highest　rank；　and　gave　parties；　of　all　kinds　of　pleasure；　at　his
house；　politics　sometimes　being　discussed。　　The　cause　of　this
assassination　was　never　known；　but　so　much　of　it　was　found　out；　that　no
one　dared　to　search　for　more。　　Few　doubted　but　that　the　deed　had　been
done　by　a　very　ugly　little　man；　but　of　a　blood　so　highly　respected；　that
all　forms　were　dispensed　with；　in　the　fear　lest　it　should　be　brought　home
to　him；　and；　after　the　first　excitement；　everybody　ceased　to　speak　of
this　tragic　history。

On　the　night　between　the　3rd　and　4th　of　June；　a　daring　robbery　was
effected　at　the　grand　stables　of　Versailles。　　All　the　horse…cloths　and
trappings；　worth　at　least　fifty　thousand　crowns；　were　carried　off；　and　so
cleverly　and　with　such　speed；　although　the　night　was　short；　that　no
traces　of　them　could　ever　afterwards　be　found。　　This　theft　reminds　me　of
another　which　took　place　a　little　before　the　commencement　of　these
memoirs。　　The　grand　apartment　at　Versailles；　that　is　to　say；　from　the
gallery　to　the　tribune；　was　hung　with　crimson　velvet；　trimmed　and　fringed
with　gold。　　One　fine　morning　the　fringe　and　trimmings　were　all　found　to
have　been　cut　away。　　This　appeared　extraordinary　in　a　place　so　frequented
all　day；　so　well　closed　at　night；　and　so　well　guarded　at　all　times。
Bontems；　the　King's　valet；　was　in　despair；　and　did　his　utmost　to　discover
the　thieves；　but　without　success。

Five　or　six　days　afterwards；　I　was　at　the　King's　supper；　with　nobody　but
Daqum；　chief　physician；　between　the　King　and　me；　and　nobody　at　all
between　one　and　the　table。　　Suddenly　I　perceived　a　large　black　form　in
the　air；　but　before　I　could　tell　what　it　was；　it　fell　upon　the　end　of　the
King's　table　just　before　the　cover　which　had　been　laid　for　Monseigneur
and　Madame。　　By　the　noise　it　made　in　falling；　and　the　weight　of　the　thing
itself；　it　seemed　as　though　the　table　must　be　broken。　　The　plates　jumped
up；　but　none　were　upset；　and　the　thing；　as　luck　would　have　it；　did　not
fall　upon　any　of　them；　but　simply　upon　the　cloth。　　The　King　moved　his
head　half　round；　and　without　being　moved　in　any　way　said；　〃I　think　that
is　my　fringe！〃

It　was　indeed　a　bundle；　larger　than　a　flat…brimmed　priest's　hat；　about
two　feet　in　height；　and　shaped　like　a　pyramid。　　It　had　come　from　behind
me；　from　towards　the　middle　door　of　the　two　ante…chambers；　and　a　piece　of
fringe　getting　loose　in　the　air；　had　fallen　upon　the　King's　wig；　from
which　it　was　removed　by　Livry；　a　gentleman…in…waiting。　　Livry　also　opened
the　bundle；　and　saw　that　it　did　indeed　contain　the　fringes　all　twisted
up；　and　everybody　saw　likewise。　　A　murmur　was　heard。　　Livry　wishing　to
take　away　the　bundle　found　a　paper　attached　to　it。　　He　took　the　paper　and
left　the　bundle。　　The　King　stretched　out　his　hand　and　said；　〃Let　us　see。〃
Livry；　and　with　reason；　would　not　give　up　the　paper；　but　stepped　back；
read　it；　and　then　passed　it　to　Daquin；　in　whose　hands　I　read　it。　　The
writing；　counterfeited　and　long　like　that　of　a　woman；　was　in　these
words：〃　Take　back　your　fringes；　Bontems；　they　are　not　worth　the　trouble
of　keepingmy　compliments　to　the　King。〃

The　paper　was　rolled　up；　not　folded：　the　King　wished　to　take　it　from
Daquin；　who；　after　much　hesitation；　allowed　him　to　read　it；　but　did　not
let　it　out　of　his　hands。　　〃Well；　that　is　very　insolent！〃　said　the　King；
but　in　quite　a　placid　unmoved　toneas　it　were；　an　historical　tone。
Afterwards　he　ordered　the　bundle　to　be　taken　away。　　Livry　found　it　so
heavy　that　he　could　scarcely　lift　it　from　the　table；　and　gave　it　to　an
attendant　who　presented　himself。　　The　King　spoke　no　more　of　this　matter；
nobody　else　dared　to　do　so；　and　the　supper　finished　as　though　nothing　had
happened。

Besides　the　excess　of　insolence　and　impudence　of　this　act；　it　was　so
perilous　as　to　be　scarcely　understood。　　How　could　any　one；　without　being
seconded　by　accomplices；　throw　a　bundle　of　this　weight　and　volume　in　the
midst　of　a　crowd　such　as　was　always　present　at　the　supper　of　the　King；　so
dense　that　it　could　with　difficulty　be　passed　through？　　How；　in　spite　of
a　circle　of　accomplices；　could　a　movement　of　the　arms　necessary　for　such
a　throw　escape　all　eyes？　　The　Duc　de　Gesvres　was　in　waiting。　　Neither　he
nor　anybody　else　thought　of　closing　the　doors　until　the　King　had　left　the
table。　　It　may　be　guessed　whether　the　guilty　parties　remained　until　then；
having　had　more　than　three…quarters　of　an　hour　to　escape；　and　every　issue
being　free。　　Only　one　person　was　discovered；　who　was　not　known；　but　he
proved　to　be　a　very　honest　man；　and　was　dismissed　after　a　short
detention。　　Nothing　has　since　been　discovered　respecting　this　theft　or
its　bold　restitution。




CHAPTER　XV

On　the　12th　August；　Madame　de　Saint…Simon　was　happily　delivered　of　a
second　son；　who　bore　the　name　of　Marquis　de　Ruffec。　　A　singular　event
which　happened　soon　after；　made　all　the　world　marvel。

There　arrived　at　Versailles　a　farrier；　from　the　little　town　of　Salon；　in
Provence；　who　asked　to　see　the　King　in　private。　　In　spite　of　the　rebuffs
he　met　with；　he　persisted　in　his　request；　so　that　at　last　it　got　to　the
ears　of　the　King。　　The　King　sent　word　that　he　was　not　accustomed　to　grant
such　audiences　to　whoever　liked　to　ask　for　them。　　Thereupon　the　farrier
declared　that　if　he　was　allowed　to　see　the　King　he　would　tell　him　things
so　secret　and　so　unknown　to　everybody　else　that　he　would　be　persuaded　of
their　importance；　demanding；　if　the　King　would　not　see　him；　to　be　sent　to
a　minister　of　state。　　Upon　this　the　King　allowed　him　to　have　an　interview
with　one　of　his　secretaries；　Barbezieux。　　But　Barbezieux　was　not　a
minister　of　state；　and　to　the　great　surprise　of　everybody；　the　farrier；
who　had　only　just　arrived　from　the　country；　and　who　had　never　before　left
it　or　his　trade；　replied；　that　not　being　a　minister　of　state　he　would　not
speak　with　him。　　Upon　this　he　was　allowed　to　see　Pomponne；　and　converse
with　him；　and　this　is　the　story　he　told：

He　said；　that　returning　home　late　one　evening　he　found　himself　surrounded
by　a　great　light；　close　against　a　tree　and　near　Salon。　　A　woman　clad　in
whitebut　altogether　in　a　royal　manner；　and　beautiful；　fair；　and　very
dazzlingcalled　him　by　his　name；　commanded　him　to　listen　to　her；　and
spake　to　him　more　than　half…an…hour。　　She　told　him　she　was　the　Queen；
who　had　been　the　wife　of　the　King；　to　whom　she　ordered　him　to　go　and　say
what　she　had　communicated；　assuring　him　that　God　would　assist　him　through
all　the　journey；　and　that　upon　a　secret　thing　he　should　say；　the　King；
who　alone　knew　that　secret；　would　recognise　the　truth　of　all　he　uttered。
She　said　that　in　case　he　could　not　see　the　King　he　was　to　speak　with　a
minister　of　state；　telling　him　certain　things；　but　reserving　certain
others　for　the　King　alone。　　She　told　him；　moreover；　to　set　out　at　once；
assuring　him　he　would　be　punished　with　death　if　he　neglected　to　acquit
himself　of　his　commission。　　The　farrier　promised　to　obey　her　in
everything；　and　the　queen　then　disappeared。　　He　found　himself　in　darkness
near　the　tree。　　He　lay　down　and　passed　the　night　there；　scarcely　knowing
whether　he　was　awake　or　asleep。　　In　the　morning　he　went　home；　persuaded
that　what　he　had　seen　was　a　mere　delusion　and　folly；　and　said　nothing
about　it　to　a　living　soul。

Two　days　afte